This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Spurlock, Schobert, Snell, Penney, Hollis, Sheldon, Sydow, Harris, Dignon, Snyder, Tritsch, Reed, Specht, Bohlen, Rawlins, Monaghan, King, Barton, Proctor, Barrett,Parkison, Crose, Ricketts, Haselwood, Vincent, Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1634 Message Board Post: Friendly Neighbors ends 67 years of gatherings April 17, 1935 – April 3, 2002 (Retyped from Article in Sidney Argus-Herald, Sidney, IA, dated 4/18/2002) At the beginning of the club year 2001-2002, Friendly Neighbor club members were president, Kay Vincent; vice president, Vivian Spurlock; secretary/treasurer, Jean Schobert; Arlene Snell, Agnes Penney, Betty Hollis, Evelyn Sydow and Violet Harris. During the current year treasurer/secretary Jean Schobert died on March 22, vice-president Vivian Spurlock dropped out because of health reasons and other members gave notice of their intention to drop membership as well. As membership had declined to four, the Friendly Neighbor members agreed to disband the club on April 3, 2002. 1995 club history The following history of the club was compiled and written by Jean Schobert of Percival when the club celebrated its sixtieth anniversary: On April 17, 1935, ladies living southwest of Percival gathered at the home of Jennie Dignon to organize a club named Friendly Neighbors. Bi-weekly meetings were held to do work for the hostess of quilting, piecing quilt blocks or embroidering dish towels. Officers elected at the first meeting were Ida Snyder, president; Mary Tritsch, vice president; Mae Reed, secretary; Jennie Dignon, treasurer. Other charter members were Hannah Specht, Carrie Bohlen, Maude Rawlins, Josie Reed, Eva Reed, Rose Monaghan, Clara King, Mary Penney, Dorothy Barton and Leta Procter. [In 1995] the last two ladies [were] living in California and Council Bluffs, IA, respectively. First dues were 10 cents, which also included daughters. Dues are now 25 cents per meeting, excluding the hostess. Original fines were 1 cent. Families of members were included in the potluck dinners, card games and picnics in the early days. One quilt was pieced and quilted for the Tabor College raffle. Josie Reed wrote the club song, sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. The club prayer remains Psalm 19:14 and club colors chosen then are red and white with the club flower, the daisy. Secret Sisters are chosen in the club just as they were by the founders. Each October the Friendly Neighbors hold a fundraising sale. The first food sale held was in 1935 at Parkison’s Store, which raised $2.80 for the club. Over the years the club has donated to many local causes. In 1936 the club purchased a spray of flowers for John Barret’s funeral at a cost of $1.50. Coffee for an early club picnic cost sixty-seven cents for two pounds and ice for the event cost twenty-six cents. In the early years guest days were big affairs. In 1954 a mother-daughter tea was held. The club celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in 1960 at the home of Anna Crose. Three charter members attended, among others. A 40th anniversary was held in 1975 at the home of Ruth Ricketts with Isal Bohlen assisting. Eleven members attended including three charter members: Mary Penney, Leta Proctor and Josie Reed. A tea was held April 17, 1985, to celebrate fifty years with a large group attending. There were thirty-six members and former members and nine guests. Charter members attending that day included Mary Penney, Leta Proctor, Josie Reed and Eva Reed. Ten members are in the club at present (1995); Vivian Spurlock, president; Agnes Penney, vice president; Veldyne Haselwood, treasurer; Jean Schobert, secretary. Other members include: Betty Hollis, Betty Sheldon, Violet Harris, Arlene Snell, Ruby Monaghan and Genevieve Specht, the club’s oldest member. Agnes Penney, Ruby Monaghan and Genevieve Specht are daughters-in-law of charter members and Vivian Spurlock is the daughter of member Clara King. Through the years there have been three generations in a family who have belonged to the club at the same time. Due to the number of members and their ages, a 60th anniversary celebration is not planned, unless members decide on a quiet day. The club records, which include many ladies in the Percival area over the years, have been sent to the Iowa University Archives for keeping. The final meeting On April 3, 2002, the Friendly Neighbors club met in Glenwood at the home of hostess Betty Hollis. Those in attendance were: Violet Harris, Evelyn Sydow, Betty Hollis, Agnes Penney and Kay Vincent, president. After the meal, the final business meeting was held and ideas exchanged about how to proceed with the closing of the club. Birthday greetings were extended to Betty Hollis. The hostess gift went to Agnes Penney. “What’s in the box” was guessed by Kay Vincent. Amidst the melancholy of the passing of another fine institution of the early days of the county, the final adjournment was announced by the president.